Centrifugal diving apparatus



1. C. FREEZE.

CENTRIFUGAL DIVING APPARATUS.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-17.1921.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922.

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APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 17, I921.

Patented Feb. 7, 1922'.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

INVENTOR JOSEPH. CHARLES FREEZE, OF SAS CITY, KANSAS.

CENTRIFUGAL DIVING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb, 7, 1922.

Application filed September 17, 1921. Serial No. 501,477.-

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JosEPI-I CHARLES FREEZE, a citizen of the United States, residin at Kansas City, in the county of VVyandotte and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Centrifugal Diving Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in diving apparatus in which a cylindrical shell is rotated by electric motors around another shell of like form which is stabilized by a gyroscope; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide a means of rotating the outer shell; second, to provide a stabilizer for the inner shell; third, to provide a guard frame around the vessel; fourth, to afford facilities for hoisting or lowering the vessel through the water.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure I is a longitudinal section of the entire vessel; Figure II a cross section view of the vessel as it'appears after the removal of one of its ends; Figure III a cross section view of the conical end.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Around the entire vessel is a guard frame consisting of a structural steel girder 4, and two structural steel rings 15, 15. Attached to the guard frame is a lifting ring 3, and a wire rope 2, by means of which the vessel is hoisted or lowered through the water from a ship at the surface. 7

At the ends of the guard frame are bearings 7, 7 for the solid shafts 13, 13, these shafts support the weight of the entire vessel; and through one of these shafts an electric cable 1, (from ship at surface), is taken to a pair of slip-rings, from which it is connected to the electric motors 9, 9, through the electric circuit 11.

These motors rotate the outer shell 5, by means of two tubular shafts 14, 14, to which are secured the curved bulkheads 17, 17; these bulk-heads in connection with the steps 13. 18 fornrthe ends of the vessel, which has the appearance of the end of a thermos bottle; between these bulk-heads air is pumped at high pressure, and hermetically sealed in, in order to counteract the water pressure against the curved bulk-heads, 17, 17.

The inside shell 6, is supported on the tubular shafts, 14, 14, by means of the bearlngs 12, 12; at each end of this shell, are shelves and bracings 1O, 10, to support the electrlc motors 9, 9; this shell is provided with a deck 16, to which is attached the gyroscope stand 23, (Fig. II) which supports the gyroscope 22, and its motor 21-; the purpose of the gyroscope, is to stabilize the inside shell, against the torque of the'electric motors while running.

The vessel is provided with two watertight doors 29, (Fig. II), by which means access to the interior of the vessel is obtained; it is also provided with two glass lenses 20, by which, objects under water may be seen or photographed, the lens on the inside shell is stationary, while the one on the outside shell revolves, passing the inside one for such short intervals, that they act as a shutter thereby not obscuring the VlSlOn.

The fundamental principle of this inven-.

tion is as follows:

The centrifugal force produced b the rotation of the outer shell 5, (including steps 18, 18) counteracts the water pressure; the compressed air in the vessels ends counteracts the water pressure againstthe curved bulk-heads 17 17, as heretofore explained.

Between the tubular shafts 14, 14, and the solid shafts 13, 13, are placed piston rings 19, 19, in order to prevent the water from entering between the two shafts.

I claim:

1. The combination in a diving apparatus, of a cylindrical shell having tapering ends, traversed by bulk-heads between which is compressed air, all substantially as set forth.

2. In a diving apparatus, the combination of a cylindrical shell, stabilized by a gyroscope, said shell containing electric motors adapted to rotate an encompassing shell,

substantially as described.

3. A diving apparatus, consisting of a cylindrical shell stabilized by a gyroscope, said shell containing electric motors adapted to rotate an encompassing shell of like form, having tapering ends traversed by bulkheads between which is compressed air, substantially as described.

JOSEPH CHARLES FREEZE. 

